My elderly father's urologist prescribed an antibiotic (cipro) that I don't think he should take. I'd like to get your opinion since the doctor's office will be closed until Monday.
In mid April, during radiation treatment, my father had a catheter placed because he was unable to urinate more than a dribble. A few days later he complained of pain and removed it. A few days later he went to the ER to get another catheter. He gave a urine sample and was prescribed cephalexin (antibiotic) which he took as instructed.
Then around April 23 the urologist removed the catheter after complaints of pain. They instructed him he could do a self catheter and gave him the supplies. They did a urinalysis with a culture while at the urologist. It came back positive for a bacteria Enterococcus faecalis typically associated with catheters, but the urinalysis showed improved results likely from the cephalexin. The culture showed that cephalexin was not the right choice of antibiotic, so Nitrofurantoin was prescribed which he started taking April 27.
He went to the urologist again April 29 due to pain and not being able to urinate. They inserted a catheter again. It may have been a different type, I'm not sure. Today, May 1 he called the urologist complaining of the same symptoms, I guess. They called to tell him to keep doing what the nurse suggested. Then later he called back and the urologist prescribed Cipro (the most power antibiotic that does not work on the bacteria he has, Enterococcus faecalis).
It seems to me that he should finish the Nitrofurantoin, which he'll be done with May 4. Then see how things are, maybe get another culture. It doesn't seem like he should stop Nitrofurantoin which is known to work and start Cipro. That seems crazy since it's not the right antibiotic and his UTI is nearly gone based on the last test.
The symptoms he has are likely side effects from radiation. No reason for an elderly person to take Cipro all willy-nilly. Even the pharmacy has questions about this prescription.
Any thoughts on this? Any recommendations since the urologist is closed over the weekend? I really don't think it's wise to take 3 antibiotics back to back when there's no legitimate need to.
UPDATED to add that the urologist was supposed to prescribe something for pain. So we don't know why they prescribed Cipro. I'm not sure who prescribed the Nitrofurantoin. It may have been from the ER, it looks like the urologist is maybe not aware of it from the notes I'm looking at on the online health records thing.